Cost of Living in Bucharest
Summary of cost of living in Bucharest, Romania:
- The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 2,795.6$ (12,226.4lei), excluding rent (using our estimator).
- The estimated monthly costs for a single person are 780.4$ (3,412.8lei), excluding rent.
- Bucharest is 49.7% less expensive than Seattle (excluding rent, see our cost of living index).
- Rent in Bucharest is, on average, 74.5% lower than in Seattle.
Restaurants |  Edit |
Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 13.15 $ | |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 68.60 $ | |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 8.00 $ | |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 3.43 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.43 $ | |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 3.31 $ | |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.40 $ | |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.04 $ | |
Markets | Edit |
|
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.60 $ | |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 1.18 $ | |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 0.82 $ | |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 3.65 $ | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 4.53 $ | |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 3.39 $ | |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 5.64 $ | |
| Apples (1 lb) | 0.67 $ | |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.79 $ | |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 0.83 $ | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 1.17 $ | |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 0.44 $ | |
| Onions (1 lb) | 0.47 $ | |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 0.90 $ | |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 0.92 $ | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 8.00 $ | |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 1.29 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 1.90 $ | |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 6.86 $ | |
Transportation | Edit |
|
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 0.91 $ | |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 22.87 $ | |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 0.69 $ | |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 1.10 $ | |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 6.86 $ | |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.68 $ | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 29,276.13 $ | |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 29,691.08 $ | |
Utilities (Monthly) | Edit |
|
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 175.65 $ | |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 8.45 $ | |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 11.35 $ | |
Sports And Leisure | Edit |
|
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 52.80 $ | |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 29.60 $ | |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 10.29 $ | |
Childcare | Edit |
|
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 690.02 $ | |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 15,034.07 $ | |
Clothing And Shoes | Edit |
|
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 83.11 $ | |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 44.24 $ | |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 92.93 $ | |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 105.90 $ | |
Rent Per Month | Edit |
|
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 640.75 $ | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 437.28 $ | |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 1,261.33 $ | |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 803.21 $ | |
Buy Apartment Price | Edit |
|
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 355.94 $ | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 208.58 $ | |
Salaries And Financing | Edit |
|
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 1,415.61 $ | |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 7.20 |
Prices in Bucharest
This city had 3510 entries in the past 12 months by 383 different contributors.
Last update: 5 December 2025
Last update: 5 December 2025
Sources and References
Moving to Bucharest? Explore:
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
Nearby Cities:| Cost of Living in Bolintin-Vale | 23.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ploiesti | 39.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Campina | 59.84 miles |
| Cost of Living in Pitesti | 75.29 miles |
| Cost of Living in Calarasi | 80.25 miles |
| Cost of Living in Brasov | 106.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Focsani | 113.83 miles |
| Cost of Living in Braila | 135.65 miles |
| Cost of Living in Constanta | 138.37 miles |
| Cost of Living in Craiova | 144.55 miles |
This Page in Other Languages:
 DeutschLebenshaltungskosten in Bukarest
|
 PortuguêsCusto de Vida em Bucareste
|
 ItalianoCosto della vita a Bucarest
|
 FrançaisCoût de la vie à Bucarest
|
 EspañolCoste de vida en Bucarest
|
Salary Calculator:Got a job offer in Bucharest? Estimate your take-home pay with our Salary Calculator for Bucharest.
a simple 2 min check enough to see it is not similar, in bucharest studios start at 1500 lei, in warsaw it starts at 2500.
earnings are not similar
Can any Romanians confirm this?
For example, a net salary of 10,000 LEI would be considered good – though not exceptional – in Warsaw. Renting a small studio apartment here starts at a minimum of 3,500 LEI, but in reality, it usually costs at least 4,000.
Thank you in advance for your answers!
1. They smell like body odor
2.They're severely lacking very ignorant.
3. Romanian women look like the missing link unattractive.
4. Lots of infighting amoungst each other.
. Romanian president is a closet queen.
Ten days ago I went with my wife to look for prices for a bed (ore extensible couch), its mattress, a large carpet and two rugs.
We are still under the impact of the "new" prices - last time we shopped for these was in 2013!
Likewise, I looked for a new high end eyeglass frame, the previous one purchased in 2020 begins to fail. The price in lei is more than four times higher!
We do have inflation, officially some 15%, in fact it is higher.
Strange, the exchange rate for Euro is still a bit less than 5 lei for one Euro, like it was for the past five years!
Since 2021 I am retired, this means I am no longer upt to date with SALARIES in Bucharest.
IT Sector 2.000+ Eur net.
Average rent: 1br apt 400-500 Eur, 2br apt 500-600 Eur, 3br apr 600-900 Eur.
City is extremely safe. Transportation, phones and utilities are cheap compared to other EU cities.
The traffic is crowded but metro system is fast.
Average rent for 1br apt - around 400-600 euros, 500-800 for a 2 br apt. Lots of apartments to rent or to buy.
City and country are extremely safe, much safer than any city in Western Europe (check external sources comparing crime levels).
Very very cheap services compared to Western Europe (subway pass around 15 euros, taxi around 0.7 euros/km, internet around 10 euros/month). Food is relatively expensive (just a bit cheaper than Western Europe or Greece).
Berlin - Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) - 2,919.93 €
Cost in Berlin is slightly higher than in Bucharest, though the Net Salary in Berlin, is 3-4 times higher.
PS: Zurich - Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) - 6,424.63 €
These are just examples, do not take them as an offence.
Romania is not an unsafe country, not at all. The prices in Bucharest are higher compared to the rest of the country, but please compare it with other European capitals and you will make the difference. The normal cost of living (rent, food, bills) is normal, not cheap, not expensive, if you want to go to a restaurant might be higher than other east European countries, but trying to compare them with France, Italy, Spain, is cheaper. But here you can find very nice places, restaurants, bars, that can't be compared to other countries at a decent price.
Please try once to visit it, to see the landscapes, the beauty of nature, of the Carpati Mountains and you will not regret it. Also try to meet Romanians and try to go to a party here with them, and you will never want to leave this contry.
58.5% of salary is take home that is more or less right. You will not get back your pension contributions unless you retire there so please make sure the company offers you a social security reimbursement - should be approx 35% of your salary.
WhatsApp number
I have never before seen such a trashy pile of rubbish written about Bucharest.
Utter lies and garbage such as your commentary suggests you are either malicious or stupid.
Bucharest is, without doubt, one of the safest cities in Europe. I have lived here far longer than you and have seen none of the violence you claim. NONE.
Are you realy sure you lived in Bucharest, Romania?
Kind regards,